City Cape

The moment Honeycrisp apples make their seasonal debut at the Union Square Farmer’s Market, I start thinking about what I want to knit for my cold weather wardrobe. First on my list this year was a cape but not a fussy Little Red Riding Hood affair. Instead, I envisioned something more modern, something for layering over leggings on weekends and also for running errands in the city on weekdays.

Our own Purl Soho Alpaca Pure ensures that my City Cape is seriously cozy and soft. It pops right over your head but has a pretty open front for a breath of fresh air. And precisely positioned armholes at elbow height leave my hands free at the market to pick all the Honeycrisp apples I want! -Gina

Sizes

Finished length from high point of shoulder to bottom edge: 22 ¼ (24) inches

Finished neck circumference: 17 (19 1/2) inches

Notes

Sl1 (slip 1): Slip the first stitch of every row by slipping purlwise with the yarn in front, then bring the yarn to the back in order to work the next stitch. This makes a nice edge and will make the Attached I-cord simpler.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 10 (11) inches from cast on edge, ending with a Row 2. (Because the ribbing portion of the Armhole has a different row gauge than the Woven Slip Stitch pattern, please measure the length over a section of only Woven Slip Stitch pattern).

Repeat the last 4 rows two more times, then repeat the Yoke Decrease Row once more. [208 (232) stitches: 28 (32) stitches before first marker and after fourth marker, 50 (54) stitches between first and second markers and third and fourth markers, 52 (60) stitches between second and third markers]

Next Row (right side): Repeat the Front Increase Row. [228 (252) stitches: 38 (42) stitches before first marker and after fourth marker, 50 (54) stitches between first and second markers and third and fourth markers, 52 (60) stitches between second and third markers]

Work 1 row even in pattern.

Piece should now measure approximately 18 (19) inches from cast on edge.

Repeat the last 2 rows eight (nine) more times. [124 (132) stitches: 25 (27) stitches before first marker and after fourth marker, 24 stitches between first and second markers and third and fourth markers, 26 (30) stitches between second and third markers]

Finish Front Opening Edge

With right side facing and using the double pointed needles, work a 4-stitch Attached I-cord along both front opening edges, picking up one stitch for every slipped front edge stitch, beginning at the neck edge for the left front and at the bottom edge for the right front. Overlapping the right side over the left side, align the two 20-stitch bound off neck edges and pin them together.

Collar

Using the smaller circular needle and with the right side facing you, rejoin yarn at center back neck edge. Pick up and knit 32 (36) stitches from center back neck to front left neck, just before overlapped edges begin. Continue to pick up and knit 20 stitches across overlapped bound off edges, making sure to insert the needle through both bound off edges as you pick up each stitch, thus joining the two layers together. Pick up and knit another 32 (36) stitches along right neck edge, stopping when you reach the first stitch you picked up. [84 (92) stitches]

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213 Responses to City Cape

Please help! i’m ready to start this pattern so I was reading over the directions. The armhole instructions (Row 2) says to work xx(xx) stitches in Woven Slip Stitch pattern. But the way i read it, that stitch pattern consists of 4 rows. What row of the pattern am i supposed to work for these stitches? i’m sorry If this is a stupid question but I’m trying to figure it out Thanks in advance.

Hello BJ,
Thank you for your question! In this portion of the pattern you will be working the 4 rows of stitch pattern within the Armhole portion. This means that Row 1 will always be the same, but Row 2 will alternate between Rows 1 and 3 from the stitch pattern.
I hope this clears things up and let us know if you have any further questions!
Happy knitting!
-Marilla

Hello Stephanie,
Thank you for reaching out- these are great questions! Yes, you will continue to slip your first stitch in this portion of the pattern. It sounds like you have a clear understanding of the stitch pattern. The only thing I would be careful of is that the stitch pattern row (row 1 & row3) That you begin with in the armhole section corresponds with the row you ended with when knitting the beginning section. For example if you ended with row 3 your armhole “row 2” would be a stitch pattern row 1.

I hope this makes sense and let us know if you have any further questions!
Happy knitting!
-Marilla